Livery Despair!

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Rossifoal1

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As some of you may have noticed I have posted a few days ago asking for any suggestions regading livery yards in Leicester.

I'll explain my situation and would love to know what you would do if you were in the same predicament. First of all the yard is gorgeous, it has a 20m x 60m indoor school with a full set of showjumps (which i dont need anymore after dedicating the horse to dressage, and so now they are a constant pain in the arse as they are always up and you cant even do a 20m circle let alone practice properly for a test) but it has amazing surface which is very important to me. The school is located IN the barn with the american stables which again have auto drinkers, rubber matting and windows. lovely! There is also a massive sand outdoor and small walker. Now the grazing isnt good, my boy has 2 small paddocks allocated to him which are left to me to poo pick and rotate as i wish. The YO is nice enough but there very very strict rules and no one to do any livery service I have been banking on a friend who has 3 other dressage horses there but she has mentioned that she will not be doing any other horses but her own soon as her back and sciatica (spelling!?) is bad. Fair enough but I work 9-5 and there is no way I can turnout and bring in the horse at the times that the yard insists upon as work is an hours drive away. Also, as of next month the poor things are to be kept in until April ....6 months!! This means I will have to get up a 5.30 to go down and try and get him into the paddock (with others fighting over it for their horses) for an hour to stretch his legs, and muck out before work, then back again at 6 to ride and muck out again etc. It is going to be a nightmare especially considering last year the horse turned into a raving explosive lunatic during the winter and had me off on numerous occasions.

So, what would you do?...stay at a lovely conveniently located yard with the indoor etc...or look to move to a less luxury yard at a less convenient location just so the horse has someone to look after him and so he gets turnout (which really is quite important to me)

I cant find anywhere suitable, im looking at Elms farm and Welldale Farm in Costock on Friday im not sure what to expect. I have been spoilt by nice yards in the past and I do like my horse to be treated like a prince :o

Talk to me people!

PS I will introduce Ross to you one day when I can gather some piccies!

x
 
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Mine couldn't cope without turn-out so all the luxiry facilities in the world would be entirely useless without the fields. Each horse is different though and if you think your horse wouldn't mind being in then it's up to you.
 
I know that you are currently in the lap of luxury at your current yard, but if your horse does become a raving looney when not turned out, then I don't think you have a choice. The only other thing that you could investigate, would be if there is any land that you could rent by seperate agreement near the yard... You would have to then find someone who could help with turning out/bringing in.

Otherwise, I think that you will have to keep looking for somewhere else.

Have you been over to Riseholme Feeds to see if anything is advertised over there? I know that there is a lovely little yard around Burton on the Wolds, but I don't know anymore than that...
 
To me it sounds like you've already made your decision.
Turn out sounds to be important to both you and your horse so if it was me, I'd move. It sounds like the cons outweigh the pros on this yard.
 
This is what I need to hear really, I forgot to mention I cant put him on the walker to help the craziness as he kicks out and as it is a cage 'mesh' type outer wall im paranoid he will get his shoe caught in it. I hate to see him wound up so i think I really need to look harder. Unfortunately there is no land to rent nearby :(

Vetwrap - Burton on the Wolds? Will have to try and look into that one i never knew there was anything there.

Any other suggestions still welcome, I need opinions I really do because what is also making it harder is the fact that he has only been there 10 months, so im moving him relatively quickly since his last move.
 
Personally, I'd be moving. Horses need turnout to relax their body and mind and enjoy some "me time" away from the hustle and bustle of the yard especially if its busy.

As long as your horse has all it needs, is happy and is looked after properly, does it really matter if the yard is not as good as your existing one? :)
 
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Well, 6 months without turnout is hardly treating him like a prince is it?
It sounds to me as if you've already made your decision, so time to look for a new place pronto.
By the way, a lot of things you mention as being great at your current yard won't really be important to your horse. He will probably be just as happy in a stable outdoors, without rubber mats and an autodrinker. Sounds to me as if you need a yard with good turnout and an arena.
 
Personaly I could never leave my ponies in with no turnout for 6 months. They need the freedom and mud to roll in . I have a sacrifice paddock that gets bad and when dry enough they go out in the big field whenever possible. I would have to move, is there somewhere nearer work so that you can do him on the way ?
 
If my horse was reacting like that I would move.
The yard I am at doesn't have alot of winter turnout but my horse doesn't seem to care whether shes in or out, as long as she gets her chance to roll after I have ridden.
 
Your all totally right I do agree, bear in mind I didnt say the indoor was great for him, its great for me! I ride in the evenings 6 days a week normally on my own and so being protected from wind and rain makes it more enjoyable. Am going to look at those links now, thankks vetwarp. Thanks for all your advice, time to start trawling ads again!
 
No turnout for one day let alone six months would be enough to make me move. My yard is what can only be described as scruffy, but there is always someone to help out, the other liveries are great (well except one but she's a freak we all avoid!! Lol!!) and the horses are all very happy and contented there.
 
maree t said:
Personaly I could never leave my ponies in with no turnout for 6 months. They need the freedom and mud to roll in . I have a sacrifice paddock that gets bad and when dry enough they go out in the big field whenever possible. I would have to move, is there somewhere nearer work so that you can do him on the way ?
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Totally, i dont like to keep him out all day in the winter as he then does his best RSPCA face at the gates :confused: but at least 2 or 3 hours would be perfect. Also im not going to lie... I despise mud BUT whatever makes him happy. I did look at yards around work area but i've now decided to get a new job eventually nearer to home so im thinking he should stay in the same region.

jsr said:
No turnout for one day let alone six months would be enough to make me move. My yard is what can only be described as scruffy, but there is always someone to help out, the other liveries are great (well except one but she's a freak we all avoid!! Lol!!) and the horses are all very happy and contented there.
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lol! Theres always one, in my case its the YO
 
I would be looking for somewhere new, my horse would be climbing the walls if he had to be stabled 24/7. There will be pro's and con's to every yard, but I would put turnout above the indoor arena on my list of 'must haves'.

Hope you find somewhere nice :)
 
no turnout for 6 months would be a def NO NO for me, but it sounds like you have decided to move so I wish you all the best in finding a suitable place xx
 
on my old yard we had no winter turnout from oct-april and i have to say my horses at the time didn't really seem that bothered. we could turn out in the school for a play but had to supervise them....however, i am now on a yard that has full year round turnout and i have to say that i couldn't go back. my current horse is very playful and i think would hate being cooped up. i also like the fact that if i don't want to ride (quite often in winter when its dark and miserable :o) i don't have to because he's been out in the field for a few hours. i would also absolutely need a bit of livery service- i don't need much but do have my horse turned out in the morning before work as was just too knackering having to get up and got before work. good luck on finding a new yard- from your post it sounds like you have already made your mind up :)
 
I'd be moving. My horse also used to do an RSPCA face at the gate after about half an hour when I first got him, he just wasn't used to being out. He now has a FULL wardrobe of rugs, and lives out 24/7.

I know opinions vary but I don't think it is healthy for a horse to be in 24 hours for 6 months, ridden or not.
 
There are so many farmers with spare bits of fields and the odd empty building - all leisure riders should think about using local farms if they can.

Won't be suitable for the competitors who can't live without livery services or floodlights or schools (what's wrong with a corner of a field?)

Farmers are struggling just now, and it is tough to diversify. So an extra chunk of cash each month often makes the difference to the family's finances.

And livery yards need a sharp reality check - as do insurers and so many others in the horse industry.
 
In some ways you're right Brucea, but its not always that simple.. We have spare land and empty stables, and used to do DIY livery, but there are so many things to factor in - insurance costs are huge. We didn't have them at first, but then you are terrified of people walking around on snow/ice etc or the slightest problem with a fence etc. Also most liveries want/expect that you will do their horses in the morning so they don't have to come up - hard if you've got a job too! Then they expect all singing all dancing schools with expensive lights etc - and all this for about £20 a week.

Many years ago DIY really was DIY, and it was very much a case of you rented a stable and a field and got on with it. Nowadays things have changed, and not in a good way.

Also a lot of farmers would rather die than have horses on their fields due to the mess they make of land!

Sorry to rain on your post!x
 
im the one who did runner from yard-dont know if anyone remembers my thread about the pink wheelbarrow.my new yard has 24/7 turnout,good hacking,a rubbish school but alot happier than the shite hole we were on b4.oh and u should see the comments they put about me on their facebook page.pmsl:) search livery yard pettiness to view it.
 
Honey08 said:
Many years ago DIY really was DIY, and it was very much a case of you rented a stable and a field and got on with it. Nowadays things have changed, and not in a good way.
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Not if you find the right tenants. I have this arrangement with the farmer who owns my land. He's sorting me out some lights for winter (he offered, I didn't ask), he put auto drinkers in the field before we arrived (he offered) and he collected the muck this week (again, he offered), but other than that he hasn't much to do with it. I tend to ask if I want to do something but I genuinely don't think he cares provided I repair any serious damage and don't knock the place down :D I'd far rather have a set up like that and spend my weekends messing around with drain pipes / repairing bits of fencing etc than be on a livery yard type place :D
 
JFTD said:
Not if you find the right tenants. I have this arrangement with the farmer who owns my land. He's sorting me out some lights for winter (he offered, I didn't ask), he put auto drinkers in the field before we arrived (he offered) and he collected the muck this week (again, he offered), but other than that he hasn't much to do with it. I tend to ask if I want to do something but I genuinely don't think he cares provided I repair any serious damage and don't knock the place down :D I'd far rather have a set up like that and spend my weekends messing around with drain pipes / repairing bits of fencing etc than be on a livery yard type place :D
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This sounds like our place ! we keep ours on a potato farm and I wouldn't change it for the world the farmer is fantastic - fixes a rail on the fence with out us asking, charges us about 1/2 what I used to be paying, lets you get on with your own thing, put extra security lights up, doesn't charge you for trailer storage, lets you buy your own hay in, go what ever time you like, turn out for however long you want and ride on his land ! only draw back is no lights on our sand school - but the cost saving means I can afford a weekly lesson off site through the winter

Services I get off my best mate who is a freelance groom

In reply to op - move no way would I keep my girl in for 6 weeks
 
JFTD said:
Not if you find the right tenants. I have this arrangement with the farmer who owns my land. He's sorting me out some lights for winter (he offered, I didn't ask), he put auto drinkers in the field before we arrived (he offered) and he collected the muck this week (again, he offered), but other than that he hasn't much to do with it. I tend to ask if I want to do something but I genuinely don't think he cares provided I repair any serious damage and don't knock the place down :D I'd far rather have a set up like that and spend my weekends messing around with drain pipes / repairing bits of fencing etc than be on a livery yard type place :D
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Thats great. Sounds like you both meet each other half way - you maintain the place and ask before you do things... Shame there aren't more liveries like that..we probably would still be doing livery!
 
Move. It's no life being stuck in all the time. Mine go out for at least 14 hours all winter, and live out 24/7 in summer. And yes, fine skinned TBs and fit competition horses included.
 
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